Toothpaste and solution capsule storage and delivery systems

ABSTRACT

A water-soluble capsule ( 1 ) for storing and dispensing single-use toothpaste ( 3 ) or other substance, each capsule preferably having a finger handle ( 4 ) and a storage container ( 5 ) for holding a desired supply of capsules. Each capsule has an exterior skin ( 2 ) that is pierceable by a capsule piercing pin ( 9, 11 ) so that squeezing the capsule dispenses the substance. Alternatively, a capsule may have a weak point ( 12 ) so that squeezing the capsule ( 1 ) causes the weak point ( 12 ) to rupture and release the substance ( 3 ) from the capsule ( 1 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 63/059,306 filed on Jul. 31, 2020.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to liquid storage devices and more particularly, capsules for storing toothpaste and other liquid form compositions and delivering the contents of the capsule when needed by a user.

Current conventional toothpaste storage and dispensing devices consist of metal or plastic tubes or holders that must be squeezed completely to fully use the contents. Unfortunately, due to the latter squeezing requirement, most often some of the contents are wasted. Another problem with conventional toothpaste holding devices is that such devices often dispense toothpaste in a messy manner leaving toothpaste on the cap of the tube and surrounding areas. In addition to the latter problems, an even bigger problem occurs from the disposal of such conventional devices because the metal and plastic tubes are not environmentally friendly as such are not biodegradable and thus clog up landfills.

Thus, a need exists for a storage and dispensing system that is capable of storing and dispensing toothpaste or other solutions in an easy and convenient single-use amount that reduces waste and is environmentally friendly.

Past attempts to address some of these issues include the following references, but none disclose a structure and method like the present invention.

Patent/App. No. Inventor Issue/Pub. Date 1,664,182 Parisi Mar. 27, 1928 3,701,575 Ringkamp Oct. 31, 1972 4,427,116 Brown Jan. 24, 1984 4,753,792 Aberg Jun. 28, 1988 6,525,023 Andersen Feb. 25, 2003 6,845,883 Pieri Jan. 25, 2005 7,074,390 MacKinnon Jul. 11, 2006 8,827,583 Solan Sep. 9, 2014 9,656,102 Vaccaro et al. May. 23, 2017 9,808,077 Noble et al. Nov. 7, 2017 10,092,779 Fontana et al. Oct. 9, 2018

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a single-use capsule for storing and dispensing toothpaste.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a toothpaste capsule that is environmentally friendly by being water soluble.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that conveniently stores the toothpaste holding capsules that is convenient and easy to use manner.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a capsule made of water-soluble film having a finger handle to make it easy to hold during application of the toothpaste on a toothbrush or in the mouth. Each capsule would be stored and held until use in a dispenser container having a thirty-day or desired supply of capsules.

One method of use involves removal of a capsule from the dispensing container, puncturing the capsule with a small pin held in a thimble or on the underside of the top cover of the dispensing container, squeezing the capsule to dispense the toothpaste onto a toothbrush and discarding the water-soluble capsule in water to dissolve. Alternatively, the capsule may have a weak point in the film or outer skin which will rupture when the capsule is squeezed to allow the toothpaste or other substance contained therein to dispense from the capsule.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a capsule for holding toothpaste or other contents used as part of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage and dispensing container for the capsules holding toothpaste or other contents;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the underside of a cover of a holding container of the present invention showing a capsule puncturing pin piercing the skin of a biodegradable capsule to allow release of toothpaste or other contents;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another capsule puncturing device of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a capsule of the present invention having a weak point in the exterior skin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:

-   -   1. capsule, generally     -   2. capsule skin     -   3. toothpaste     -   4. capsule handle     -   5. capsule storage and dispensing container, generally     -   6. supply of capsules     -   7. exterior     -   8. container cover     -   9. capsule piercing pin     -   10. underside of container cover     -   11. thimble     -   12. weak point

Referring to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a capsule 1 of the present invention having an exterior skin 2 and a finger handle 4, all made of water-soluble material, such as poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), that starts disintegrating the moment it comes in contact with water. The capsule 1 contains toothpaste (or other contents such as mouthwash) 3, which may be dispensed into the mouth or onto a tooth brush by puncturing the skin 2 with a needle-like tool, as described later herein, and squeezing the capsule skin 2 to dispense the toothpaste 3 inside or, alternatively, squeezing a capsule 1 having a weak point 12, also described later herein, causing the weak point 12 to rupture, thereby dispensing the toothpaste 3. Then the entire capsule 1 may be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way as it dissolves in water by swallowing or washing down a sink. In certain embodiments, an extension of the capsule skin 2 allows a user to hold the capsule 1 between the user's fingers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a capsule storage container 5 of the present invention, consisting of a jar, although other types of storage could be used and are contemplated, just so long as the storage container has sufficient volume to hold a desired number of capsules, most preferable a thirty-day supply. The capsule storage and dispensing container 5 would preferably have an exterior 7 that is transparent to allow a user to view the supply of capsules 1 and have a container cover 8 to seal and protect each capsule 1 from ambient contamination.

FIG. 3 illustrates the container cover 8 of the capsule storage and dispensing container 5 having a needle-like, capsule piercing pin 9 on the underside of container cover 10 to be used to puncture the exterior capsule skin 2 of the capsule 1 to release the toothpaste 3 or other substance therein. Each capsule 1 is sized and designed to hold sufficient toothpaste 3 for a single use and to be disposed in water after that single use.

FIG. 4 illustrates a needle-like, capsule piercing pin 9 attached and extending from a thimble 11 for holding between a user's fingers that could be used to puncture the capsule skin 2 of the capsule 1 to release the toothpaste 3 in cases where a capsule storage and dispensing container does not have a built-in capsule piercing pin.

The final drawing, FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative aspect of the capsule 1 that does not need to be punctured to release the single-use contents such as toothpaste 3 of the capsule 1. In this aspect, the capsule 1 contains a weak point 12 in the capsule skin 2 which will rupture when the capsule 1 is squeezed, thereby releasing the toothpaste 3 or other contents from the capsule 1. The weak point 12 may be a point of thinner exterior capsule skin 2 created at the time of manufacture of the capsule.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and/or drawings. 

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A capsule for holding and dispensing a desired substance, said capsule comprising: A capsule skin surrounding an interior having a predetermined volume in the interior; and a desired substance in the interior.
 2. The capsule of claim 1 further comprising: an extension on the capsule skin of the capsule for holding the capsule between a user's fingers.
 3. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the capsule skin is made of a water-soluble film.
 4. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the capsule skin is pierceable by a capsule piercing tool to release the substance contained in the capsule.
 5. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the exterior skin contains a weak point so that when the capsule is squeezed the weak point will rupture, thereby causing the substance to be dispensed from the capsule.
 6. The capsule of claim 1 wherein the desired substance is toothpaste;
 7. A storage container for holding and dispensing toothpaste and other substances, said capsule having a capsule skin surrounding an interior having a predetermined volume in the interior and a desired substance in the interior, said container comprising: a capsule holding section having sufficient volume to hold a desired supply of capsules; and a cover for closing said container, said cover having a topside and an underside, the underside containing a capsule piercing pin for piercing the skin of the capsule to release the substance contained therein.
 8. A method of using a capsule to hold and dispense a desired substance, the capsule having a capsule skin surrounding an interior having a predetermined volume in the interior and a desired substance in the interior, wherein the capsule skin is pierceable by a pin-like tool to release the substance contained in the capsule, said method comprising the steps of: removing the capsule from a container; piercing the capsule skin of the capsule using a capsule piercing pin; and squeezing the capsule to release the substance contained therein.
 9. A method of claim 8 wherein the desired substance is toothpaste;
 10. A method of using a capsule to hold and dispense a desired substance, said capsule having a capsule skin surrounding an interior having a predetermined volume in the interior and a desired substance in the interior, wherein the exterior skin contains a weak point so that when the capsule is squeezed the weak point will rupture, thereby causing the substance to be dispensed from the capsule, said method comprising the steps of: removing a capsule from the container; and squeezing the capsule until the weak point ruptures to cause the substance to dispense from the capsule.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the desired substance is toothpaste. 